Earth&Space

Weather

state of the atmosphere at a specific location

and time, what you get

climate

the average/longterm/typical temperature,

precip etc, what you expect

Climate change

change in climate over time, change in expectations

Heat

a type of light (infrared) and it moves in the direction it was emitted. Does not rise

Warm air

Rises because molecules have MORE energy (infrared) causing them to move faster and collide

with each other more frequently. This expands the volume of the gas (distance between the molecules) creating a lower density.

Cool air

more dense air pushes warm air up.

Wind

UNequal heating of the Earth's surface, some places get hotter (receives more energy from the sun, albedo etc), some places do NOT get as hot (reflect more light, have "weak rays" from the sun etc).

Rising air cools

as air rises in our atmosphere, the air pressure (weight of the air from above pushing down) decreases. If you DECREASE the pressure on a gas, you DECREASE the temperature of the gas.

Sinking air warms

As air sinks, the pressure increases causing the

temperature to increase.

Latitude

Locations with lower latitudes (closer to the equator) receive MORE energy from the Sun

Land vs water

Land heats up faster and cools down faster than water, locations receiving air from land will have greater seasonal changes (hotter summers, colder

winters) than locations receiving air from the oceans.

Albedo

Some surfaces have a higher ______ (ability to reflect light from the sun) than others. If more light is

reflected, then less is absorbed making it cooler.

Solids

Little tiny solids in our atmosphere that allow water to condensate, condensation nuclei (dust, ash, smoke, etc).

Cloud

water vapor present in the air, rising air (needs to rise so that the air pressure rapidly decreases) A decrease in pressure (decreases the temperature and allows water to cool from a gas to a liquid) this forms a ______

greenhouse effect

Light from the Sun is high energy, short wavelength visible light. Portions of the Earth's surface absorb the energy from the Sun, the energy is transferred. the Earth will RE-emit the energy. BUT, the Earth is NOT as hot as the Sun, so the light Earth gives off is less energy,

longer wavelengths infrared light. Infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gases warming our atmosphere.

Coriolis effect

Because of Earth's rotation, the movement of air (or anything in the air) appears to be DEFLECTED (changed, altered) in its direction of motion.

Right

The coriolis effect affects winds in the northern hemisphere by deflecting wind to the _____

Left

The coriolis effect affects winds in the southern hemisphere by deflecting wind to the _____

No coriolis effect

Without this there would be no wind or pressure belts, air would move straight from high to low

Oceans

Heat and cool slower than land, because it is really good at transferring heat from one place to another through convection and conduction. It is also transparent, and has a high specific heat.

Altitude

This can affect climate because an increase in ________ decreases air pressure, which will decrease temperature.

Warm ocean currents

Warms the air above, the warm air moves over the land (Europe for example) and increases the temperature.

Westerlies

Michigan gets its air from the __________, air comes from the land to the WEST of Michigan

East

What direction do the trade winds come from?

30 degrees

This (N and S) latitude is where most deserts are, because there is a subtropical high pressure belt. Highs bring clear skies

Equator

Equatorial low pressure belt is along this, the warmest location on earth.

Wind pressure belts

Polar High, Polar easterlies, Subpolar low, Westerlies, subtropical high, trade winds, equatorial low, trade winds (easterlies) sub high, westerlies, sub low, polar high (Top to bottom)

Low latitudes

close to the equator, receive LOTS of energy from the Sun so they have a HIGH average temperature and a very small temperature range because they have STRONG RAYS (angle is more direct) and LONG DAYS (12 hours of daytime) every single day.

Mid latitudes

receive a medium amount of energy from the Sun, so these locations typically have a medium average temperature and a medium range of temperatures. (Farmington Hills)

High latitudes

receive very little energy from the Sun. the North Pole receives NO energy from the Sun because it's nighttime for the entire 6 months. Even when it has 24 hours of daylight, it still receives very little energy because the angle is very indirect.

Continental climate

a region with4 distinct seasons, featuring hot/warm summers and cold/severe winters, found mostly in the interior of large northern landmasses

Landforms

These can drastically change the climate of cities based on what side of the _______ the city is located. Cities on the WINDWARD side experience LOTS of rain and a more MILD climate. Cities found on the LEEWARD side of a mountain experience very little rain and LOTS of sunshine.

Windward

the side facing into the wind (east), experiencing colder, wetter weather and higher wind resistance.

Leeward

the opposite, sheltered side (west), which is generally warmer and drier.

Equatorial low

a belt of LOW air pressure found near the equator. LOWS bring rain or snow, so this

location gets LOTS of precipitation.

Subtropical High

belts of HIGH air pressure. Highs bring clear skies = deserts